'I can't breathe': protesters clash with police over handcuffed dying student
Protests erupted in the UK after a video emerged of a dying student being handcuffed by police. Eighteen-year-old Henry Nowak was heard repeatedly telling officers: "I can't breathe" after he was sta…
Protests erupted in the UK after a video emerged of a dying student being handcuffed by police. Eighteen-year-old Henry Nowak was heard repeatedly tel
Read Full Story at France 24 →Why This Matters
The video of Henry Nowak’s final moments—repeatedly pleading "I can't breathe" while restrained by police—has reignited national debates over police use of force, particularly against vulnerable individuals. This incident underscores the persistent gap between institutional accountability and public trust, where systemic failures are exposed not through policy papers, but through raw, undeniable footage. For a society still grappling with the legacies of high-profile deaths in custody, the emotional and political weight of this case risks becoming a flashpoint that transcends local outrage.
Background Context
The UK has seen a decade of scrutiny over police tactics following cases like that of Sean Rigg in 2008 and, more recently, the death of Chris Kaba in 2022. Unlike many European counterparts, British police forces operate under a doctrine of "reasonable force," yet critics argue this has been inconsistently applied, especially in mental health crises or when suspects are intoxicated. The rise of body-worn cameras has paradoxically intensified public scrutiny, turning routine interactions into evidence that often contradicts official narratives.
What Happens Next
An independent inquiry is all but inevitable, with calls already mounting for a public inquiry akin to the 1998 Macpherson Report into police conduct. The Home Office’s response—likely a mix of procedural reviews and public reassurances—will face skepticism unless it includes concrete measures like mandatory de-escalation training or the reclassification of restraint techniques. Meanwhile, protest organizers are leveraging social media to sustain momentum, raising the risk of escalation if police responses are perceived as heavy-handed.
Bigger Picture
This case fits a broader pattern across Western democracies, where video evidence of police violence has become a catalyst for reform—but often without meaningful change. The UK’s approach, characterized by piecemeal reforms and reliance on voluntary compliance, now faces a reckoning with its own contradictions. As racial justice movements and mental health advocates converge, the pressure for systemic overhaul is growing, but the question remains: will this be another moment of outrage, or the beginning of a lasting shift?
